Rolling-contact printing member with adjustable roller inker



L. C. PRICE, JR

2 Sheets-Sheet m w in L 5 IN K M/ W Zewzls 61 273 1;;

Jan. 23, 1968 ROLLING-CONTACT PRINTING MEMBER WITH ADJUSTABLE ROLLER INKER Filed March 24, 1965 1% h PF iiil "Wu IIL J YN x 0v 3 [0 r 9 5L] 9 V Jan. 23, 1968 L. c. PRICE, JR

ROLLING-CONTACT PRINTING MEMBER WITH ADJUSTABLE ROLLER INKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1965 INVENTOR Zezyzls 67.2 7223 J9;

BY M f ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,364,849 ROLLING-CONTACT PRINTING MEMBER WITH ADJUSTABLE ROLLER INKER Lewis C. Price, .lr., Yonkers, N.Y., assignor to Control Print Machinery Manufacturers Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 442,355 7 Claims. (Cl. 101-35) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Printing apparatus to print on top or bottom surfaces of containers or a web whose lengths may be varied including a main frame supporting pulley-driven inking and printing rolls, a pivoted sub-frame carrying a pulleydriven metering roll, one of the pulleys being removable for replacement by a differently diametered pulley, all pulleys being driven by a common belt and all rolls having the same peripheral speed and commonly pivoted diverging adjustment members for adjusting the position of the pivoted sub-frame.

This invention is concerned with printing apparatus. More particularly the invention is concerned with an apparatus adapted to print the top or bottom surfaces of a series of containers or on a web to be formed into pouch or envelope packages wherein the length of the containers may be varied from time to time and wherein the printing apparatus is driven and may be quickly changed to accommodate articles or packages of difierent length.

One example of the use for which the present apparatus is intended is in connection with package forming machines of the pouch or envelope type. Such rnachines continuously form packages comprised of envelopes or pouches filled with the packaged product, the envelopes or pouches being formed from a continuous web and wherein the envelopes or pouches are sealed by heat sealing means acting periodically on the Web transversely of its length. The heat sealing means-thus divide the web into individual filled pouches or envelopes joined together. Subsequently the individual pouches or envelopes are severed one from the other at the point of transverse heat sealing. Pouches or envelopes formed by such machines vary in length from, for example, one inch to several inches or more, depending on such factors as bulk, weight, portions etc., of the packaged product. Specific examples, are the much used single dosage headache remedies now marketed in pouch packages on one hand and the so called dry soup mixes also packaged in envelopes or pouches which are considerably larger than is the case of single dosage packages.

When these packages are formed it will be apparent that a single packaging machine must be adaptable to forming various sizes of pouch depending on the product involved. Oftentimes packaging is done by so called contract packagers and thus the seller of the product will wish each product code marked according to the lot packaged, the packager, the date, etc. Heretofore, code marking of such packages in fact of any packages on a single packaging line, whether box or pouch, has created a problem in that no printing device used for code marking could be accommodated to various length packages without extensive revision of both the drive means therefore or the printing member thereof. Such revisions require the maintenance of multiple parts, particularly drive gears, printing cylinders etc., and inevitably a particular length package would become involved which no amount of juggling of parts or drive gears would enable proper "ice registry of the printing on the package or boxes of peculiar size, so that code marking was impossible or, if possible, attained only by the most expensive of changes, slowing of production, etc.

The present invention, then, has for an object the development of a printing apparatus particularly adapted for use where the packaging or coveying line to which it is applied is used in connection with the packaging of various products in containers of varying sizes.

Another object of the invention is to produce a universally adaptable printing apparatus.

Still a further object of the invention is to produce a printing apparatus wherein the drive means is readily adaptable to accommodate packages of varied dimensrons.

An additional object of the invention is to produce a printing apparatus having means for quickly adapting the printing cylinder to a variety of conditions.

These and other objects of the invention not specifically set forth but inherent therein and readily apparent to the skilled in the art are accomplished by means of a printing apparatus including a main frame adapted for fixed mounting on a suitable support, said main frame carrying a source of ink supply and a printing cylinder rotatable therein; a sub frame fixed within and adjustable with respect to said main frame; a metering roll carried by and adjustable with the sub frame and interposed in rolling contact with both the source of ink and said printing cylinder; and drive means comprised of a series of pulleys :atfixed, one each, to each of said rolls with the remainder carried by the main frame, the pulley driving said printing cylinder being readily removable so as to permit various diameters of pulleys to drive the cylinder, said cylinder including means whereby the efiective peripheral speed of the printing member may be varied along with variations in drive speed so as to accommodate articles of different length to produce a printed character at a selected repetitive position on each package irrespective of its length.

Having set forth broadly the objects and means for attaining same which define the present invention, consideration of the following description and the drawings associated therewith will enable those skilled in the art to fully comprehend the inventive concepts herein involved.

Accordingly- FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the printing device,

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1, parts being broken or removed for clarity,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the device approximately at its center line, along the line 3-3 FIG. 2 showing frame and sub frame details,

FIG. 4 sectional view through the printing cylinder, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

Turning initially to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 it may be seen that the apparatus is comprised of a main or support frame assembly 10 and a sub frame or transfer frame 40. The main frame assembly 10 includes side members 7, 7'. The mounting or left hand end of main frame members 7, 7 are provided with clamp bars 1, 1' pivoted on tie rod 3 to rearwardly projecting ears 5, 5' formed as an integral part of the side member 7, 7, the clamp bars being bifurcated at the areas 9. 9' to receive the ears 5, 5. The lower and swingable portion of each clamp bar is in abutment with the end edges 11, 11 of the side members 7, 7'. Midway of the vertical height of each clamp bar 1 and frame edge 11 each element is provided with a V shaped notch 13, 15, 13', 15' respectively, opening toward each other to define a clamping diamond for the member B. Member B is mounted on a packaging machine frame and thus forms a means whereby the apparatus may be fixed to the machine. In order to firmly clamp main frame on the member B the clamp bars 1,1 are apertured at 17, 17 to receive bolts 19, 19 which are threadedly engaged in a suitable threaded opening .21, 21' in frame member 7, 7'.

The side members 7, 7 of main frame assembly 10 are identical and are laced together by transverse tie bars 3, 23, 25, 25 among others, which maintain the two side members 7, 7' in aligned and rigidly interconnected relation.

As shown in the drawing, frame assembly 10 carries first an ink roll 27 and a. printing cylinder assembly 29. These rotary elements are provided with central shafts 31, 117 the latter to be described in detail, which are journaled by suitable hearings in each side frame member 7, 7' with the peripheral surface of the printing cylinder extending below and beyond the end of side members 7, 7 as clearly shown in FIG. I. At least one end of shafts 31 and 117 extend through and project outwardly beyond the side, frame members 7, or, 7' for reasons that will subsequently be described.

Roll 27 may be a typical fountain roll having an internal ink supply which is fed to its outer surface by capillary action and/ or centrifugal force as is conventi nal in the art. Alternatively, it may comprise a pick-up roll operating to transfer ink from a pan 37 which extends between and is fixed to the side members 7, 7 of main frame 10 as shown in FIG. 3.

Mounted externally, that is, on the outer face of the side member 7 of main frame assembly 10 for pivotal movement is a tension lever 41 journaled at its midpoint on a stub shaft 43 suitably aflixed to side member 7. The terminal ends of lever 41 are provided with tension pulleys 45, 47 which are rotatably affixed thereto by any suitable mounting means.

The tension lever may be rocked clockwise or counter clockwise and may either be spring biased for rocking motion in one direction as illustrated in FIG. 1, springs 49, 49 being connected to the respective terminal ends and side member 7 to bias the tension lever in a counterclockwise direction. Alternatively rather than being spring biased, the'tension lever 41 may be lockable against swinging at any given position in which case stub shaft 43 would be providedwith a suitable lock nut (not shown) Whereby it may be tightened to hold tension lever 41 in any given position;

The outer face of the side member 7 of main frame 10 is also provided with an idler pulley 57 suitably mounted thereon, said idler pulley 57 being disposed above the axes of rotation of either printing cylinder assembly 29 or ink roll 27, also as shown in FIG. .1.

The projecting ends of both shafts 31 and 117 are also provided with drive pulleys 51, 53, each being keyed or fixed to the respective shafts 31 and 117. The connection between shaft 117 and roller assembly 29 being readily broken as and for the purpose as will be subsequently described.

. Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, in particular, it will be seen that disposed against the inside faces of the side members 7, 7' of main frame assembly 10 is the transfer frame or subframe 40, comprised of adjustable carrier members 61, 61' and a transfer or metering 'roll 65 having a central shaft 67 suitably journaled, intermediate their ends, in the carrier members 61, 61' by means of conventional anti-friction bearings (not shown). At least one terminal end of shaft 67 (as shown in FIG. 2 the lower end) projects outwardly beyond the carrier member 61 and side member 7 of main frame 10 through an enlarged aperture 71 whereby the shaft may be moved in its relative position with respect to side member 7 and or 7' of the main frame assembly 10 without interference from the side members. This outwardly projecting end of shaft 67 is also provided with a pulley 33 as seen in FIG. 1.

As seen in FIG. 2, the rear terminal ends of carrier members 61, 61 are slotted at 73, 73 and rest on the tie bar 3 being retained against lateral movement thereon by suitable stop collars 77, 77'. Thus the carrier members 61, 61 are both pivotally and longitudinally movable with respect to main frame 10 and its side members 7, 7

The opposite of forward ends of carrier members161, 61' are connected to main frame assembly 10 by means of adjustable connectors comprising self centering rod ends 79, 81 (only two shown in FIG. 3) through which pass threaded turnbuckle-like connectors 83, 85, 83', 85' connected by any suitable means 87, 87' to the terminal ends of the carrier members 61, 61'. Suitable nuts 91, 93, 95,

97, abut against opposite sides of the rodend bearings, the nuts 93 and 97 being in the form of adjustment knobs whereby rotation thereof will serve to move the turnbuckle-like connectors 83, 85, 83', 85', longitudinally of their respective lengths in either direction. The nuts 91 and 95 serve as locking elements to clamp the connectors 83, 85, etc., in their selected position of adjustment.

It will be noted in FIG. 3, that the longitudinal axes of the turnbuckle-like connectors 83', 85' (also 83, 85) are disposed in a generally common vertical plane, but that these axes diverge relative to one another :at an angle of approximately 45 or more. Because of this arrangement the carrier arms 61, 61'are moved both longitudinally and vertically when either or both of the adjustment nuts 93, 97 are rotated. Thus the'position of metering or transfer roll 65 may be adjusted so as to vary its peripheral contact with both ink roll 27.and printing cylinder assembly 29. This important feature permits of accurate regulation of the ink supply to the printing cylinder 65 to suit varying conditions to which the device may be used.

cylinder arrangement is shown and will be described in detail. While in the previous descriptive material, the printing cylinder 29 has been shown as a simple roll, for con- 7 as shown, a pair of co-axial shafts 117 and 119 are journaled in each of the side frame members 7, 7' respectively, of support frame assembly 10.

Considering first shaft 119 it will be seen that a pair of anti-friction bearing elements 121, 123 are pressed intoa bearing carrier 125 in turn press fit into frame member 7'. Shaft 119 in turn is journaled in the bearings'121, 123 and locked in place by suitable lock rings 127 as shown. The outer end of shaft 119 carries a sprocket 130 keycd in place, whereby, if sprocket 130 is driven by conventional chain drive from a convenient point on the packaging machine or the conveyor drive,.rotation will be imported to shaft 119. For the purposes to become apparent, the inner end, left hand end as shown, of shaft 119, is provided with a bronze bushing 131 and a diametrically disposed key 133.

Shaft 117 is journaled in side frame member 7 by suitable bearings and carrier 141, 143 and 145 respectively;

the carrier being press fit into member 7. Rather than being directly engaged by the bearings 141, 143, shaft 117 is surrounded by a sleeve 147 locked in place within the bearings 141, 143 by lock rings 149. The sleeve 147 in turn carries the drive pulley 51. (shown in FIG. 1) this pulley being locked on the sleeve by means of a set screw 153.

In order to transmit rotation in unision between shaft 117 and sleeve 147, also pulley 51, while at the same time permitting axial movement of shaft 117, the sleeve is provided with diametrically opposed apertures (not shown) which in turn receive .key which extends diametrically across the hollow interior of the sleeve. The shaft 117 is provided with an axially elongated slot 157 through which the key 155 passes. Thus rotation of shaft 117,"as will be described, will transmit rotation to sleeve 147 and pulley 51.

The outer end of shaft 117 is provided with a cylinder release knob 159 while the inner end ofthe shaft is pro- Turning now in particular to FIG. 4, a novel printing vided with a bronze bushing 161 and a further diametrically disposed projection 163 defining a further releasable, driving connection. Closely adjacent bushing 161 is a lock ring 165 against which abuts one end of a coil spring 167 surrounding shaft 117 and having its opposite end in engagement with the end of sleeve 147. Thus spring 167 acts against lock ring 165 to bias shaft 117 inwardly toward the center of the apparatus while at the same time manual pulling of knob 159 may cause the shaft 117 to move axially outwardly against the bias of spring 167 without disturbing the driving relation of the shaft with respect to pulley 51.

Continuing further, it will be seen that the printing cylinder, per se, is comprised of a cylindrical hollow shell 171. Shell 171 in turn is engaged at end with an end cap 173 having an annular land 175 and an annular peripheral lip 177 which extends diametrically outwardly beyond the exterior surface of shell 171. End cap 173 is connected by a pin 179 with a central shaft 181, this shaft being provided at this end with a diametrically extending slot 163 which engages the key 183 on the end of shaft 117. The opposite, or right hand end of shell 171 is also supported on a further end cap 187 which is centrally apertured to receive the opposite end of shaft 181 and which has a cross sectional configuration substantially identical to that of end cap 173. The shaft 181 is provided at this end with a central axially extending threaded aperture 189 into which is threaded the left hand portion of a drive coupling 191. The drive coupling 191 is itself provided with a central recess 193 which bottoms in a slotted wall 195 the recess and wall being adapted to receive and form a driving engagement with the inner end of shaft 119 with its diametric key 133.

From the above description, it will be seen that with shaft 117 retracted to the right the entire cylinder assembly 29 can be readily inserted and/ or removed from its position between shafts 119, 117 while at the same time, when locked in place, the cylinder will be driven from sprocket 130 via shaft 119, keyed connection 133, 195 shaft 181, pin 179 and in turn will drive pulley 51 via connection 163, 183 shaft 117, key 155, sleeve 147 and set screw 153. Shell 179 is driven concurrently with shaft 181 via the pin 179.

As has been stated the end cap 187 is mounted on shaft 181 and in turn engages shell 171 being retained in place by the coupling 191 threadedly and removably engaged with shaft 181. Thus with cylinder assembly 29 removed from shafts 117 and 119, the coupling member 191 may be manually unscrewed and thus end cap 187 removed from the end of shell 171. Thus the free end of the shell can receive a plurality of cylindrical spacer and type hold ing rings 201, 265 respectively in any suitable arrangement of width and spacing thereon. When the spacer and type holding rings are properly and selectively arranged, the end cap 187 is reengaged with sleeve 171 the coupling member 191 threaded into shaft 181 thus bearing against the end cap so that the type rings 205 and spacer rings 20 are firmly and non rotatably clamped in place on shell 171. By this arrangement an infinite variation in the information, position, etc., of the subject matter to be printed can be obtained.

In order to provide for different spacing of the point at which printing takes place on the item to be printed the thickness of the spaces 201 and the base of each type holding ring can be increased to provide for an effective increase in the diameter of the cylinder assembly 29 same being clamped by the axial pressure exerted between end cap 173 and 187 as affected by the coupling member 19. Thus for a constant drive speed from the machine to which the present invention is attached the differences in spacing obtained between imprints on the article or articles being printed becomes a function of roll diameter or effective diameter of the roll assembly 29. Of course, suitable shim members (not shown) may be used between caps 173, 187 spacers 201 and rings 205, where desired,

to obtain the proper spacing of same and proper tightening of same on the shell 171. Also in some instances the diameter of shell 171 may also be changed to accommodate different diameters of spacers 201 and rings 205 where the print spacing change is of such a nature as to require same. Thus, changes from a most minute nature to a rather substantial nature can be affected by various combinations of shell diameters and type ring or space diameters.

As previously stated it is the usual practice to drive printing devices of the type disclosed herein from some point on the packaging equipment. Thus, in this case, drive of the present device will be obtained by a chain and sprocket drive, the sprocket being carried on driven shaft 119. It is important for proper operation that an apparatus of the type described essentially a fiexographic press, all of the rolls, printing cylinder, transfer roll and inking roll will be driven at the same peripheral speed. Thus while changes in diameter of the printing cylinder assembly 29 as described above, may not produce a major change, of peripheral speed, a drastic change, as by changing shells 171, will produce a change in peripheral speed of cylinder assembly 29 relative to transfer cylinder 65. Thus means must be provided whereby the drive ratio provided from pulley 51 to pulleys 33 and 53 can be varied to meet these changing conditions. This is accomplished by changing the diameter of pulley 51 (utilizing different diameter pulleys) so that differences in the peripheral speeds of transfer roll 65 and ink roll 27 can be met by driving the pulley 33 and 53 in a ratio to accommodate such changes. Since pulley 51 drives the pulleys 33 and 53 by means of a belt it can be seen that an infinite ratio of drive speeds may be transferred to rolls 65 and 27 assuming that the diameter ratio between pulley 33 and transfer roll 65 and pulley 53 and fountain roll 27 remain a constant. It should be noted that the belt drive arrangement accomplishes a result which cannot be obtained easily by gear or chain and sprocket drives where additional factors such as tooth count etc., are interjected into the computations, and wherein in many cases all pulleys would have to be changed, to effect the desired drive and driven ratios to produce equal peripheral speeds of the printing cylinder 29, transfer roll 65 and inking roll 27. Also, his a relatively simple matter to take up or release the tension in belt 150 to accommodate various diameters of pulley 51 via the tension adjustment rolls 45, 47 and lever 41. With the described arrangement, for example, one machine utilizing the unique drive and print roll structure herein described may print on webs at any dimension between 9 inches and 13 /2 inches with the exact synchronization being obtained between all rolls by the use of only one interchangeable pulley 51.

A second machine, identical in design but having different sizes of pulleys can operate in the 6" to 9" rangewhereby the whole range from 6 to 13 /2 inches can be covered.

Having thus described my invention in detail, it will be come apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, such being within the purview of the appended claims, wherein, what is claimed is:

- l. A printing apparatus comprising a frame assembly; means for mounting said frame assembly on a packaging machine or the like; a plurality of rolls carried by said frame assembly, at least one of said rolls being movably mounted with respect to said frame assembly; means for mounting said last-mentioned roll on the frame assembly, said means comprising a sub-frame pivotally and slidably connected to the first mentioned frame assembly at one end having its opposite free end adjustablewith respect to said first mentioned frame assembly and means for adjusting the free end of the sub-frame comprising connector elements each having an adjustable length and each having one of its ends pivotally connected separately to said first-mentioned frame at the other end of said subon said sub-frame to said separate pivotal connections 7 on said first-mentioned frame.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes an ink roll, a transfer roll and a printing roll,tthe first and last mentioned rolls being fixed to the first mentioned frame assembly, the second mentioned roll being mounted on said sub-frame.

3. In an apparatustfor printing on moving objects and including a printing cylinder, an inking roll and means for transferring ink from said inking roll to said printing cylinder, a common support for said inking roll and said cylinder, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of frame members, a transfer roll mounted therebetween means for mounting said frame members on said common support for swinging movement relativeto said printing roll; adjustment means whereby said transfer roll may be adjusted, said adjustment means comprising a pair of manually-operable connectors each having an adjustable length and each having one of its ends pivotally connected separately to said common support and the other ends of said connector elements pivotally connected at a common point to said frame members, the axes of said connector elements diverging from said common point of connection on said frame members to said separate pivotal connections on said common support.

4. An apparatus for printing on moving Webs comprising a main frame assembly, an inking roll carried by said frame assembly, a transfer frame carried by said main frame assembly, said transfer frame including spaced side members each having one end adjustably connected to said main frame assembly and a movable end, an ink transfer roll carried on said transfer frame, means for ad justing each movable end, a printing cylinder assembly including a printing cylinder carried 'by the main frame assembly, said last-mentioned cylinder being readily removable therefrom, drive means including a pulley associated with each of said printing cylinder, said inking roll and said ink transfer roll, belt means trained over said pulleys and means for driving said printing cylinder whereby rotational movement imparted to said printing cylinder is also imparted to said ink transfer roll and said inking roll such that all of them rotate at the same peripheral speed, said means for adjusting said transfer frame comprising a pair of axially adjustable connectors one end of each of which is pivotally connected to a common point on the transfer frame, the opposite ends being adjustably connected at separated ends to the main frame with the axes of the connectors in diverging relation.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 further including tension control means mounted on said main frame and acting on said belt means. 7

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said 7 printing cylinder assembly comprises a pair of spaced coaxial shafts supported in said main frame, at least one of said shafts being axially movable toward and away from the opposite shaft, means at the opposing end of each shaft defining a releasable rotation imparting coupling,

a central shaft disposed between said spaced shafts and I 8 v releasably, rotatably coupled thereto, type carrying means fixed to said central shaft and comprising a cylindrical shell and means surrounding said shell for locking type in place thereon.

7. A printing apparatus comprising a mainframe as sembly including spaced side frame members, an inking roll and a printing roll spaced apart and carried by said side frame members for rotation, on generally parallel axes, an intermediately located metering roll disposed between and in contact with the peripheries of said inking and printing rolls, means for driving at least one of said rolls, each of said rolls including shaft means extending outwardly beyond one side frame member, pulley means carried by each of said outwardly extending shaft means, belt means trained over said pulley means whereby the driven roll drives the remainder of the rollers, the ratios of pulley diameters to roll diameters being fixed so that all of said rolls rotate at the same peripheral speed, said driven roll comprising a printing cylinder assembly removably carried by said spaced side frame members and being disengageable from its driving pulley means, said assembly including a pair of spaced coaxial shafts at least one of which is biased and movable axially, a further shaft to which opposing ends of said coaxial shaft are connected in rotatively driving relation, a plurality of end cap members carried by androtatively engaged with said further shaft and a cylindrical shell disposed between said members, and printing means carried by said shell, the axially movable shaft comprises a central shaft member. and a fixed sleeve surrounding said central shaft memher, the latter having an axial slot, a key fixed to said sleeve in register with said slot so that the axially movable shaft is axially displaceably relative to said sleeve but rotatably fixed thereto, a spring, one end of which is in abutment with said sleeve surrounding one end of said last-named shaft and the other end of said spring in abutment with locking means on said last-named shaft adjacent printing cylinder assembly, the pulley means of said printing cylinder assembly being fixed to said sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 797,039 8/1905 Wood 101350 837,029 11/1906 Bittner 29-123 1,716,108 6/1929 Brueshaber 101350 1,775,505 9/1930 Baccellire et a1. 29-123 1,948,430 1/1934 Robinson 29-423 2,470,075 5/1949 Robbins 10136 2,674,941 4/ 1954 Hopwood et a1. 101330 XR 2,773,446 12/1956 Koeber' 101216 XR 3,068,785 12/1962 Ahlburg 101349'XR 3,116,684 l/1964 Gottscho et a1. 101350 XR 3,120,176 2/1964 Gottscho et a1. 101350 XR 449,405 3/1891 Dolphin 101350 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,142,178 1/1963 Germany.

468,400 7/1937 Great Britain;

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

J. R. FISHER, Assistant Examiner,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,364,849 January 23, 1968 Lewis C. Price, Jr.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 4 to 6, for "assignor to Control Print Machinery Manufacturers Corporation, a corporation of New York" read assignor, by mesne assignments, to Control Print Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey column 4, line 4, for "of", first occurrence, read or column 6, line 8, for "space" read spacer Signed and sealed this 1st day of April 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

